The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-30
Judge Houk's Address.
Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are come together for the pur
pose OF paying respect 10 the heroic
dead, who gave their lives that the
American Union might live. The
principle for which they died found
expression in the Declaration Il In.
dependence and Constitution Of the
United States. These brave men laid
down their lives In order to vindicste
the doctrine that the government a nd
people OF the United States constitute
Nation-yes, a Nation to be spelled
with big N And 1t seems to me
most meet and proper on an occasion
like this to call to mind aud examine
the constitutional doctrines and patri-
otto principles for which they fought
and in defense OF which they died.
The orator then dwelt at some
length on the Declaration OF lode.
pendence, the successful rebellion
against Great Britain and the treaty
of peace which followed The battles
OF the Revolution, he said, were fought
by the colonies with that union OF
sentiment and purpose which was
born OF patr, o:ic motive and impulse.
The one grand purpose OF liberty and
independence was enough to weld the
forces OF the Revolution together in
the bonds Of fraternal patriotism.
He then followed the founding OF the
present government, step by step, an
alyzing the foundation principles cf
the constitution, and the fundamental
and paramount provisions OF the body
OF the instrument itself. 1t was diff
cult to understand how any intelligent
citizen could read the constitution of
1889, and study it as a whole, without
coming TO the conclusion that what.
ever differences Of opinion there may
have been originally amongst irs
trainers, they nevertheless concluded
their lsbors by investing the Govern
ment Ct the United States with all the
attribu es, elements aud powers of ma
tional sovereignty. Through the pro-
visions Ct the constitution, its trainers
clothed the machinery OF the Govern
ment OF the United States with all the
powers then supposed to be necessary
10 enforce the sovereign will OF all the
people, of all the States, in their gen.
eral and collective character of 1--WE,
the people Of the United States"
Coming on down to the war Of the
rebellion, he said:
The war for the Union, in which
our dead comrades fell, was based on
these fundamental rights vested In the
nation for the benefit OF. and subject
to the sovereign will Of the people OF
the United States, collectively. And
the government OF the people, by
the people, and for the people," in
obedience to the collective voice of
tie people, determined to preserve
and maintain the national existence,
and to resist all attempts 10 overthrow
and destroy 1t, either by secession or
war, and thus came this and other ma.
tional cemeteries to be peoPled with
our dead comrades, some OF whose
graves you have assembled to decorate
with flowers. The war in which they
fought, and fell, was war OF self.de.
tense. 1t WAS a war for self.existencs
"a war for national preservation 1t
was war for "the Union, the Consti.
luton and the enforcement OF the
laws p 1t was a war OF the right,
against great wronRl 1t was q war
Tor liberty and jusice-s war for law
and orderl
II was war by the nation for self
existence-a war fjr national preeerva-
lion against an unjustifable-an
almost inexcusable rebellion
1t was a war in behalf II all that had
been expressed or implied in the De-
,lara'ion Of Independence. 1t was q
war to yindicate republican institu-
ions and demonstrate the capacity OF |
man for self government 1t was q
war to give the lie to the doctrine OF
state sovereignty, which held and
aught that secession was constitu-
ional.
Every battle fought, every cannon
whose roar was heard, and every gun
ired, as we'll as every bayonet charge |
turing the whole war were 80 many |
Arguments coupled with living evil
fence, that the doctrine OF Ieicesble
secession was false-a dangerous and
1esdly heresy. In this war for the
Union, this war for republican iHsti-
.u.ions, this war for the rights OF man,
here were expended, ss 1t were,
oceans of blood, besides billions upon
billions of money.
More than 100000 Of men were
borne on the rolls Of tle Federal army
inriDg the progress Of the War for the
Union.
More than s8,OOO,OO),OOO was ex-
pended to save the Union.
More than Q00 O00 brave sOldiea laid